Major Francis Turpin (Beauchamp, Solomon, William) was born September 9, 1759, in Dorchester County (now Sussex County, Delaware). He married Ann Nancy Reed, the widow of Captain Ezekiel Reed and daughter of Lieutenant Matthew Smith of the Fork District, Dorchester County. Nancy Reed, according to tradition, was a very pretty young widow with two small children, Ezekiel Jr. and Betsey Reed.
Francis Turpin was an ensign in the Revolution at 18 years of age and later became a Captain in the Upper Battalion of Dorchester County. Also in the militia of Upper Dorchester County were his half-brother, John Twiford, his elder brother, Captain John Turpin, his wife's first husband, Captain Ezekiel Reed, and his wife's father, Lieutenant Matthew Smith.
Francis Turpin remained in the Dorchester County Militia after the Revolution and also served as Major in the War of 1812 in the 11th Regiment of the 12th Brigade. During the War of 1812, his regiment was stationed near Crotcher's Ferry, Dorchester County.
Major Francis Turpin was a large landowner and slave holder, no doubt by far the largest slave holder in the region. For years, when his name was mentioned among descendants of his neighbors, one would hear the remark, "He is the man who owned a hundred slaves." This was an unusual number for Maryland, where the average farmer seldom owned over a dozen slaves.
Major Turpin inherited some land from his father, patented other tracts, and acquired much by purchase, and therefore possessed much at his death. Besides his home and other lands in Dorchester, he possessed 600 acres in Sussex County, near the Delaware boundary.
As one expressed it, he was a nabob of his day. Evidence of his wealth was his horse-drawn coach. When his daughter went riding in the coach, for protection a slave on horseback rode one half mile ahead, while another slave rode one half mile behind.
Another one of his extravagances was his pet ape from England. The ape followed him everywhere. However, after some time, the ape became destructive. The ape's final act convinced Major Turpin that something must be done. The event occurred when Major Turpin went to visit the home of a neighbor. When he reached his neighbor's yard his first thought was that it was snowing. He soon found that the neighbors were housecleaning and had put feather beds on the porch roof to air. The ape had run ahead, climbed on the porch, and tore into a bed, throwing feathers and fluff all over the yard.
Soon after his marriage, Major Turpin lived a short time in Delaware. He then moved to a farm in Dorchester County, where his eldest children were born.
Major Francis Turpin's name frequently appears in the civil court records of Dorchester County. The first occurrence appeared in March of 1799. Evidently, as the guardian of Elizabeth Smith, he was fined for not rendering accounts to the orphans court.
In March of 1799, his name again appears. James Moore was fined for assaulting Francis Turpin.
Some of the charges were more serious than others. In October of 1803, Francis Turpin was found not guilty of manslaughter on the body of Joseph Esom.
A record appearing in March of 1813 states the following: "Francis Turpin had a conversation with a certain Deborah Bailey on July 6, 1808 in Dorchester County, at which time Turpin inquired whether Bailey was pregnant. Bailey said yes and that the father was William Wheatly. Turpin offered Bailey $40.00 to swear that the child was Resdon Smith's. The child was born December 18, 1808 and supported by William Wheatly." Major Turpin was found not guilty.
Francis Turpin's homeplace is situated on the banks of the northwest fork of the Nanticoke River in the town of Eldorado. A tract of 2,350 acres, known as "Rehoboth", was patented to Captain John Lee in 1673. In 1787 Lettice Corbin Lee sold "Rehoboth" to Captain John Smoot. After much subdividing of the land, the tract consisted of only 200 acres. Around 1788, Captain John Smoot built an impressive brick structure called both "Rehoboth" and "Liberty Hall". The structure by 18th century standards was considered a mansion. Some writings erroneously attribute its construction to the Lees.
In 1812 Major Frank Turpin bought "Rehoboth". Major Turpin, who died December 28, 1829, was interred on the estate, which has since been known as the "Turpin Place". Around 1935, his body and tombs were removed to Cambridge, Maryland, where Revolutionary soldiers were being gathered in one churchyard.
Quoting from the History of Dorchester County, page 105: "Major Turpin lived there for many years, where he dispensed lavish hospitality to many a social guest within its spacious halls. Balls, so popular over 80 or 90 years ago, were continued for two or three days at a time. At his home, where music and wine kept merry, handsome men and maidens fair through many a mazy dance."
Besides the usual carved wainscoting, high mantelpieces, and deep windows indicative of the colonial period, the old house had a distinctive feature worthy of note. Over the mantels in the parlor and dining room, built into the walls, were panel paintings which seemed to be reproductions of a magnificent country estate of the old English type.
The interior of the house was gutted by fire in 1916, but was rebuilt by the late Francis Brueill on its original plan and with the original walls which were not burned. Today the view of the house from the Nanticoke River is still breathtaking, though an addition has been made to one side of the structure.
The estate was passed on to the son of Francis Brueill after his death. In 1990, the latter Brueill died and left the estate to his wife, Ruth Brueill. Unfortunately, she was forced to sell some of the estate's treasures for her survival.
Francis Turpin's first wife, Nancy, died in 1809, when their son Thomas J. Turpin was only six months old. The infant was raised by his brother-in-law, Dr. John Gibbons of Seaford, Delaware.
Major Turpin remarried on January 12, 1811 to Ann Chance. She was a widow and bore Francis two children, Josiah and Ann Jane. On August 24, 1824, Francis Turpin married for a third time. This wife, Nancy Dill, survived him.